XC Central: Tennessee Tri-Star Cross Country Challenge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee men's and women's cross country programs will open the 2019 season Friday morning, as UT hosts the first edition of the Tennessee Tri-Star Cross Country Challenge at the Cherokee Farms Cross Country course in Knoxville. The meet will begin with the men's 6K at 9:00 a.m., followed by the women's 5K at 9:45.

System schools UT Martin and UT Chattanooga are set to compete against the Vols and Lady Vols at the triangular meet. UT Interim President and avid runner Randy Boyd will be on site to fire the starting pistol.

NOTABLE RETURNERS: Tennessee returns a core group of veterans from the men's squad that finished third in the South Region and fourth in the SEC last season - both the highest finishes for the Vols at those meets since 2002 and 2010, respectively.

Karl Thiessen (Abingdon, Va.) is back on Rocky Top after an impressive rookie cross country campaign, earning USTFCCCA All-Region and Freshman All-SEC accolades a year ago. Johnson City native Alex Crigger will also be a name to watch as he comes off an outdoor SEC title in the 3000m steeplechase this past spring. He and classmate John Elrod (Lebanon, Tenn.) both earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2017. Elrod returns this fall after missing last cross country season due to injury.

The Lady Vols took home seventh-place finishes at both the regional and conference meets last season, tabbing their best results in those meets since 2009 and 2011. Knoxville's own Megan Murray finished 10^th in the region to qualify for the NCAA Championships and was the first female to represent UT on that stage since nine-time All-American Chelsea Blaase in 2015. Spokane, Wash. native Katie Thronson looks to build upon a standout freshman season where she earned Second Team All-SEC honors.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: Tennessee was rated No. 6 and No. 11 in the USTFCCCA South Region preseason rankings on the men's and women's sides, respectively. The NCAA South Region features all Division I cross country programs from the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

Neither UT Martin nor UT Chattanooga received regional rankings on the men's side, while Chattanooga's women were slotted 15^th in the South Region poll.

UP NEXT: Following the home meet, UT will take two weeks off from competition before sending a group to Charlottesville, Va. for the Cavalier Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14. The meet will run on the University of Virginia's Panorama Farms Cross Country Course.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee cross country and track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.

XC Central: Tennessee Tri-Star Cross Country Challenge

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Players Mentioned

Alex Crigger

John Elrod

Megan Murray

Karl Thiessen

Katie Thronson

University of Tennessee Athletics